Form for displaying clothing



(No Model.)

H. LYONS.

FORM POR DISPLAYING CLOTHING.

No. 593,592. Patented Nov. 16, 1897.

Inventor ,1/ f M I l v/ Attorney me xmms creas co Fumo Ln-Ma wAsMxuGrou u c UNITED STATES PATENT QEEICE.

HUGH LYONS, OF LANSING., MICHIGAN.

l FORM FOR DISPLAYING CLOTHING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 593,592, dated November 16, 1897.

Application led September 14,1896. Serial No. 605,692. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownV that I, HUGH LYONS, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at the city of Lansing, in the county of Ingham and State of Michigan, have invented acertain new and useful Display-Form for Clothing, of which the following is a specification. v

My invention relates to improvements in forms for displaying clothing and to forms for similar purposes. As heretofore constructed these forms have been diflicult to adjust, owing to the fact that suitable joints have not been provided between the various parts of the iigures. These joints have usually been ball-and-socket joints, and the body has usu-4 ally been made rigid. The head where the neck has been jointed at all has usually been supported by a ball-and-socket or a pivot joint.

The objects of this invention are therefore to produce a form for display purposes which shall be completely adjustable and one in which the iigure can be placed in an easy and natural position.

A further object is to provide a suitable joint for use on gures of this character between the various parts.

Further objects will appear definitely in the detailed description.

I accomplish these objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which the ligure of the drawing shows a complete View of a form constructed in accordance with my invention, the external contour being indicated by the dotted lines and the framework or foundation part being indicated in fulllines.

In the drawing similar letters of reference refer to similar parts.

The figure is made up a suitable framework consisting of arm and leg sections and the body portion connected together by suitable flexible joints of copper wire, which can be either single copper wires or bundles of wire twisted together.

Referring to the lettered parts of the drawing, F corresponds to what might be called the backbone of the figure, which consists of a bundle of soft-copper wires twisted together. It extends up and forms a flexible joint at F for the neck and carries block E, with an upwardly-projecting pin E, upon which thev head of the figure is supported. Extending across the upper portion of this backbonepiece F is a cross-piece A, of wood or suitable material, which forms the framework of the shoulder part of the iigure. Extending out from the ends of this cross-piece A are bundles of iiexible copper wires G, twistedtogether into suitable exible cables corresponding in length to the arms of the figure. Blocks of wood C C' vare secured upon these projecting bundles of wire Gr Yand formvthe rigid portion of the. arm-sections of the biceps, forearm, and hand, the parts being a little separated from each other on the central flexible support at the elbows, at the shoulder,

and at the wrist to form iiexible joints at those places. The joints are constructed as hereinafter to be described. The hands are supported on the ends of the central arm-supports G and are separated a little from the ,portions C' of the arms.

Across the bottom of the backbone-piece F is a cross-piece A', which forms the framework for the hips of the figure. To the outer ends of A are secured bundles of soft-copper wire which correspond to the legs of the igu re in length. Blocks B B are secured on the upper portion of the same and correspond to what might be called the thigh-bones. Blocks B' B are secured to the lower portion a little separated from the blocks B and form what l might be called the bones of the legs proper. The wire between the blocks B B is covered by a layer of hair or moss suitably wound upon the same. This preserves the external appearance of the joints and prevents the lengths of copper wire between the sections from becoming kinked and secures a proper formation of the. limb, leaving it flexible to be adjusted in anjT desired position. At the bottom of these leg portions are secured the feet, which are usually of iron or heavy material, to serve as ballast for the gure. are separated from the blocks VB B to form suitable flexible joints at the ankle of the iigure. All of the joints 'of the figure are formed as indicated in the knee of the drawing, and a bundle of hair or brous material is wound 'around the joint to preserve the contour of the They v IOO same to prevent the kinking of the flexible metallic wire of these joints.` Substantially the same process is used in connection with the backbone F. It is Wrapped very snugly in a considerable quantity of hair or fibrous moss or suitable material, giving the same sufficient rigidity to support the figure and at the same time leave the same flexible to enable the same to be bended and adjusted to give the ligure a natural appearance or attitude. The portion F', projecting above the crossstrip A, serves as a perfectly flexible joint and secures a natural adjustment of the head of the figure. I desire to state in connection with this matter'that the figure constructed as I have indicated is completely and satisfactorily adjustable and that it can be put in any position or in any attitude that ahuman gure can be made to assume.

Having thus described my improved form, I 'desire to say that it can be considerably varied in the details of its construction without departing from4 my invention.

Ordinary forms of figures can be provided with my improved joints and operate very satisfactorily. Soft-copper wire is the best material to use for the joints, but any annealed soft-iron wire or other flexible metal can be used in the same way, though it will probably not be so durable. I am also aware that it is not absolutely necessary to have a bundle of Wires twisted togetherlike a cable, but that they can be used separately, and in a small figure a single wire at the joints is all that will be required. I also desire to state that the structure that I have here produced is noty for display-forms alone. It is also desirable for the construction of dolls which have adjustable joints. Iam also aware that the structure is valuable for other uses than those which I have indicated, and that figures can be made in toys of various character by the use of the structure for joints that I have here described.

Having thus describedmy invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a form for display purposes the combination of the backbone portion F, made up of a bundle of flexible metallic wires; the cross-piece A, at the top thereof forming the framework of the shoulders; flexible metallic arm portions G, extending out from the crosspiece A, with rigid portions C, C', secured thereto to form the rigid portions of the arms and hands secured to the ends the various parts being a little separated from each other on the flexible supports to form a convenient joint; hands secured to the ends of said flexible arm-supports and a little separated from the block portions C'; the neck portion Ff, being a continuation of the back portion F, carrying block E', to carry the head of the form; vcross-piece A', to the bottom-forming the framework for the hips; leg portions H, consisting of iexible metallic wires twisted together having rigid portions B, B, for the thighs and the rigid portions B', B', for the'A legs and carrying weighted feet at the bottom all a littleseparated on the central support the Whole being suitably packed with hair or excelsior or other similar fibrous material to fill out the, figure substantially as deconnection as specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two witf nesses.

HUGH LYoNs. [Le] 

